Reminds of the Simpsons episode when they go to Japan.

That's exactly what it is.

Rule of thumb: when in doubt, assume it's a Simpsons reference.

This rule applies to about 90% of all things my generation comes up with... as sad as that is.

Ah! Good detective work.

Okay, I'm too tired/lazy to try and substantiate this, but I believe the Simpsons reference was to a real event, in which a Japanese TV show was in fact inducing seizures in susceptible individuals. Anyone besides me remember this?

Oh yes, oh yes. Here's a fossilized CNN link to the original story of the cartoon that ate brains.

Thanks, Bret!

Right, I remember that. I was working for the late, lamented magazine Shift at the time, and we ran two huge pictures of the Pokemon scenes that caused all the damage. It was the first time I'd heard of Pokemon at all; it didn't become a roaring craze in the US until 1999 or 2000.

Nice site. thx.